CREWE and Nantwich MP Gwyneth Dunwoody said she was delighted after her sacking forced a humiliating defeat for Tony Blair on Monday.

Parliament reacted angrily to her dismissal as chairman of the transport select committee and delivered a embarrassing blow to the Labour leadership.

The veteran MP had been kicked off the committee last week, sparking fury among backbench MPs.

They forced a U-turn in a heated Commons debate in what was Tony Blair's first Commons defeat as Prime Minister.

Within an hour of the defeat, which was greeted by loud cheers, the Chief Whip's Office announced that Mrs Dunwoody would be put forward on a new list for committee members.

The Government was left with little choice after the membership of the new transport committee, which had excluded Mrs Dunwoody, was rejected by 308 votes to 221.

Mrs Dunwoody, 70, said she had been 'astonished' at her removal and warned that the public would not accept MPs who simply toed the party line.

As chairman of the transport committee she had accused ministers of paying insufficient attention to passenger safety, implying that they were too concerned about Railtrack's profitability.

She said: 'The constituency I represent, with its railway connections, will find it difficult to understand that a government with such a large majority should show such a worrying case of insecurity that they cannot afford to have even an odd voice of consent.

'Close scrutiny is the basis of all good parliaments and the creation of acquiescent groups is not an efficient way of checking the executive. I am very disappointed.'

But her sacking caused dismay among Labour backbenchers and former speaker Lady Boothroyd urged MPs to rise up and reinstate Mrs Dunwoody.